Facebook could be in trouble once again when the Federal Cartel Office announces its verdict in an ongoing probe
According to sources, the authorities are currently working with Facebook to assess the effectiveness of the initial steps taken by CEO Mark Zuckerberg a few months ago to bring more clarity on data usage.
The most recent antitrust episode indicates the ghosts of the data breach scandal involving the now-defunct Cambridge Analytica would continue to haunt Facebook and Zuckerberg for a long time. It has been found to have collected user information from third-party apps like WhatsApp and Instagram in an objectionable manner.
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A major concern is that data gathered from millions of unsuspecting Facebook users was misused for propagating advertisements and news feeds aimed at influencing voters during the presidential polls – an allegation that has been plaguing the company since President Donald Trump took office.
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It is learned that regulators are planning to bring e-commerce companies also under their scanner since the extent of alleged data manipulation by internet companies is yet to be fully assessed. There are several grey areas where online marketplaces allow third-party websites to use their platforms to sell product and services.
Facebook’s stock, which has been struggling to stabilize after last month’s massive fall, gained nearly 2% during the forenoon trading session.
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